FWS Group of Companies • 204-487-2500 • http://www.fwsgroup.com
Reprinted from GRAIN JOURNAL September/October 2017 Issue
Founded in 1953 in Winnipeg, MB, Canada by Frank W. Sawatsky, FWS Group began as a small commercial contractor, growing through the 60’s and the 70’s before transitioning to the North American ag industrial market in the 80’s.
“We’re a privately-owned company, and we’ve grown from a small contractor to a large solutions provider in a few different markets, including ag-industrial, energy, and bulk material handling,” explains Denis Tetrault, director of sales and marketing at FWS. “We are probably most well-known in the ag industry for our grain elevator builds and slipform technology, but we also have design/built many types of facilities, such as fertilizer and food processing, feed mills, mining head frames, and cement plants.”
FWS Group began using the slipform method of concrete silo construction in the mid-80s, when the company expanded its operations into agricultural construction.
Partner Clients
“The relationship we have with our client base, as well as with our suppliers, which over the years we call ‘partners,’ is really what makes us successful,” Tetrault says.
“What makes us different is that we self-perform up to 85% of the entire scope of a project, including both design and construction. We employ internal engineers, draftspeople, and full complement of construction professionals. We have a tremendous focus on quality and safety, and demand the same from our supplier-partners and vendors,” he adds.
Today, FWS Group engages 400 employees and has constructed more than 150 inland grain terminals. According to Tetrault, starting at project inception, FWS can assist with site selection, scope of work development, design and costing recommendations, budget control, trade tendering, permitting assistance, and execution of the project works all the way through to commissioning and turnover.
